BY MA CHEE SENG AND NATASHA JEE
KUCHING: The 35 Yayasan Sarawak-sponsored medical graduates of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) have expressed their deepest appreciation to the Sarawak government.
The Doctor of Medicine graduates received their scrolls from Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg during the second session of Unimas’ 26th Convocation Ceremony here on Tuesday (Nov 1).
In addition, the ceremony also saw the presentation of Yayasan Sarawak Excellent Graduate Award to Eugenius Then Ji Xuan, a medical graduate, and Nur Aisyah Johari, an electronic and electrical graduate.
The award is given by Yayasan Sarawak to graduates who obtained excellent academic and co-curriculum results.
Here, the medical graduates spoke to New Sarawak Tribune on their achievements and future plans.
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EUGENIUS THEN JI XUAN, 24
First and foremost, the foundation paid for my tuition, as well as allowance and accommodation during my five years at Unimas. With all of these benefits in place, I can devote my all to my studies. As part of my future plans, all medical graduates must first complete their housemanship, which I will do here at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH). After that, I plan to continue my education in the field of surgery. Because that will be a competitive field, we must build our CVs during our housemanship and MO period. Surgery in Malaysia is offered by public universities such as Universiti Malaya, so we must apply through those universities, just as we did for our undergraduates.
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ANDREA RACHAEL SHARA JOMET, 24
I am very happy and grateful for the opportunity given by the Sarawak government to help me to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor. With this, I also want to give back to Sarawak, especially to serve in the interior areas. If given the opportunity, I would also like to pursue a Master’s degree, especially in the field of paediatrics.
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AMBER ANDREW RAGAI, 24
At first, I was really surprised I was chosen for this scholarship, with that I’m very grateful to be given this opportunity to further my studies under the scholarship. I do hope we are able to continue with this kind of scholarship for future generations and medical students. As for my future plans, hopefully I can do well in my housemanship and after that, I hope to specialise in a specific field and contribute more to my state.
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STANLEY JARET HILTON HENRY, 24
I want to express my gratitude to the Sarawak government for giving me the scholarship and opportunity to continue my studies at Unimas. Throughout the five years, my studies were financed by Yayasan Sarawak with an annual allowance of RM10,000 and my fees were also paid fully by them. Hence in the coming years, I will try my best to give back to Sarawak, specifically through my expertise in the field of medicine.
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ANIS NASUHA MORSHIDI, 24
I did not expect to get the scholarship as I didn’t know there was a Yayasan Sarawak panel before. But thank God, I got the scholarship even though it was a surprise but I am very grateful because it helped me to continue my education for five years, especially coming from a middle-class family. The foundation has helped cover all my studying materials and cost of living while at Unimas. In the future, I plan to continue studying after my posting and hopefully become a specialist so that I can give back to Sarawak.
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AINUR YASMIN HAMDAN, 24
Five years as a medical student, I was not worried about the cost of study, fare, accommodation, and tuition because it was all covered by the Sarawak government through the Yayasan Sarawak scholarship. My planning for the future will indeed be giving back to the community, especially to the people of Sarawak and to the future juniors who are provided the scholarship, use it as best as possible, study properly and contribute back to Sarawak.
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GABRIELA NAINA KENETH, 24
Thanks to the scholarship, I did not have to think about financial matters. I hope that this scholarship will continue in the future because I, as a student before, really felt its benefits. And I hope the juniors get the same experience. I have always wanted to work in my own state, and this provided me with the chance to serve Sarawak.
